Lupus Q & A

I have a butterfly rash, with photosensitivity, nodules on my knuckles and severe muscle pain, my original ana came back a high positive, however my ana panel, cbc count and sed rate all came back normal. I went to the ER because of the pain and he started me on steroids and pain pills and still believes Lupus may be the problem and is sending me to see a rheumatologist. Can it still be Lupus with the rest of my blood work being normal. I am getting conflicting opinions from two doctors

When I have blood test done I have really high anti-nuclear antibodies. What relationship does this have with autoimmune disease? I was diagnosed in 1990 with Fibromyalgia. Is this possibly connected?

I would like to know if there have been any developments in helping one get pregnant. I tested positive for the ANA in 2002 and until Dec of 2005 my husband and I had gone though fertility treatment. I tested positve for the lupus anti-coagulant but everything in regards to feritity was above normal. The last attempt I produced 32 eggs and 17 fertilized. Everytime I was hyperstimulated. I had a healthy boy in 1994 who is almost 13 with my ex and I am now 35. Between 2003 and just recently, I had next to no symptoms. Prior, my symptoms were the typical, joint pain/swelling, fatigue, depression. Now I am experiencing all but the joint pain and have developed a skin problem across my chin and jawline and not a complete memory problem, just kind of like feeling not as “sharp”. I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but my hair feels different. The frustrating thing is that everyone thinks the symptoms are something I can control from the fatigue to my skin. My husband keeps trying to get me to get an ovulation kit after 3 years of no results from one of the best fertility doctors in our area. When I was seeing a doctor regularly for this, it didn’t help. I just went in, he asked how I felt, did I want steriods, no, see you in 3 months. Is there any hope in getting pregnant? Is there any use in seeing a doctor if I don’t want steriods? Thank you for your time.

Why use a low dose of steroid in RA AND NOT LARGE DOSE AS IN SLE?